Chinese historical sites in B.C. call for nominations

The provincial government is seeking nominations from the public of locations with significance to B.C.'s Chinese community that would be added to a registry of historic places.

The project is one of eight legacy recommendations included in a formal apology delivered, in May 2014, by Premier Christy Clark, to Chinese Canadians for historical wrongs committed by past provincial governments.

The call for nominations is for places across B.C., said Henry Yu, co-chair of the Legacy Initiatives Advisory Council.

"If you are in Revelstoke or if you are in Nelson or if you're in some place in B.C. where there's been a forgotten story, perhaps there aren't Chinese-Canadians there anymore, but there's a grave site or a significant building, we rely on you to come forward," said Yu.

"There were Chinese grocery stores, or restaurants, or Chinese-Canadian cafes that were there right from the start of settlement and, I think, that's the history that has been somewhat forgotten or neglected."

Approximately 10 of the nominations will be officially recognized by the B.C. government and placed on the B.C. Register of Historic Places and the Canadian Register of Historic Places.

"(This) announcement is the first step of many towards the implementation of the Chinese Historical Wrongs Legacy Projects, with more to come over the next year," said Minister of Multiculturalism Teresa Wat.

Members of the Legacy Initiatives Advisory Council say the project is an example of government recognizing cultural heritage for the benefit of all British Columbians.